Baby Bank
Supporting Families, Giving Every Baby the Best Start
Our Baby Bank provides essential clothing, equipment, and supplies for babies and young children (up to age five) to families facing extreme hardship. We collect high-quality second-hand items and ensure they reach those who need them most. Covering areas from Tilehurst Village to Hungerford, we help parents struggling with the cost of essentials, offering practical support during difficult times. No family should have to choose between feeding their child and buying essentials. Our Baby Bank provides clothing, equipment, and vital supplies, helping parents give their children the best possible start in life. Watch our video about the Baby Bank HERE
Providing Essential Support When Families Need It Most
Access to our Baby Bank is through referral by professionals such as community midwives, health visitors, and family support workers, ensuring help reaches those who need it most. We support families facing overwhelming challenges, including:
- Extreme financial hardship
- Refugee/asylum seeker status or new arrivals to the UK
- Escaping domestic violence or rebuilding after leaving the family home
- Isolation from family or support networks
- Teenage pregnancy
- Military families in crisis
- Victims of fire, flooding, or unexpected disasters
- Children placed in emergency foster care
- Homelessness or temporary accommodation struggles
Need Support from The Baby Bank? Here’s How to Get Help
Are you a professional working with a family in need? Simply complete online form below.
If you or a family member need support from The Baby Bank, please reach out to us. While we cannot assess need directly, we can work with your midwife, social worker, or family support professional to confirm your referral.
Your privacy is our priority—we never share family details. The only information we report is the number of essential items distributed, such as highchairs, buggies, and clothing bundles.
Donations:
We are not accepting physical donations at this time as our space is limited. We will use our Facebook page to make requests for donations. You can find our Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/HomestartWBBabybank
Alternatively, you can help us out with a cash donation to help with the day-to-day running costs of The Baby Bank and purchase items that must be bought new for example, car seats, safety harnesses, bottles and teats, etc. Simply click here: to donate through our Local Giving page or to offer your time get it touch via our Contact Us page
Click on the button below to download our Donations Guide for the Baby Bank.
We are extremely grateful for your support!
Online Baby Bank Goods Request Form
Baby Bank FAQs
Click on the box title to reveal the answer.
Do you offer a collection service for items I want to donate?
We do not currently offer a collection service.
How do I know what you need?
The easiest way to find what we’ve been up to and what our current needs are is by liking or following us on Facebook (link to Facebook page). You can also sign up to receive emails (link to newsletter page)
Do you have a list of what you accept and what quality do the items have to be in?
We post regular updates to our Facebook page with items we are accepting, or you can take a look on the Donation Guide (link to this document) Items must be in excellent preloved or new condition. If you would give it to your best friend, then we will take it!
Do I need to clean the items I am donating?
Yes, please. We are a small team of volunteers, and we work in a small space with no facilities to wash goods. For further information, please refer to our Donation Guide (link to this document)
What else can I donate?
New mums deserve a bit of looking after too. The occasional treat – such as a nice shower gel or soothing hand cream – is always appreciated.
We also accept sealed sanitary products which we include in the bundles. Sadly, purchasing these necessities is simply not an option for all.
Where and when can I drop off items?
You can arrange a time to make a drop off at our Baby Bank Unit by pre-arrangement with the Baby Bank Coordinator.
What will you buy with cash donations?
Cash donations are used to buy items that must be bought new – such as car seats, safety harnesses for buggies and high chairs, teats for bottles and potties.
If we have bid for charity funds (i.e. from Tesco) we nominate how the money will be spent – for example towards our rent and running cost.
What happens to our donations?
Once we have received the items we will check them and sort them into relevant boxes – clothes, nappies, wipes, toiletries, etc. We check the clothes for stains, rips and tears. Then we make up seasonal bundles of clothes within certain age ranges.
What happens after I make a referral?
Once we have received a referral from a referral partner we start to make up their requested items. If there are any items requested that we do not have, we might put a request out on Facebook for donations. Once the items are ready, we will contact the referrer to arrange a time for collection. (In exceptional circumstances, we might arrange to drop them off to the family ourselves.)
If you have made a referral to us, we will contact you within 48hrs to confirm receipt of request and arrange collection. If it is an urgent request, please let us know. We can also be contacted on 01635 760310
When is the Baby Bank open?
Discover Volunteering
Our volunteer driven support makes us totally unique, could you be our next volunteer?
Why volunteer for us?
Over the last 52 years, Home-Start volunteers have improved the childhoods of 1.5 million children
Volunteer opportunities
Check out the various roles Home-Starts offer so that you can support families and children in your community.
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